<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2523" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>I service a C3 in a very = similar venue as you describe.  I put on a bottom cover and it did help.  I = haven't tried a string cover but I might.  I tune four times a year.  = Jim Dally</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black">From: <A title=gwholley@hi-techhousing.com href="mailto:gwholley@hi-techhousing.com">Gordon Holley</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">To: <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Sent: Wednesday, January 05, = 2005 2:57 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Subject: Tuning pin and pin = block problem</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> Hello List = – TUNING PIN AND PIN BLOCK PROBLEM<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> I have a = church as a customer, with a Yamaha C3 Grand, SN710484, approximately 25 years = old, which I have tuned frequently since Mar 2002, 5 times in 2004.  This grand sits in a = sanctuary that will seat 500, a choir of 80, with a large organ, space for a 16 piece = orchestra and a large pulpit stage area.<o:p></o:p>             This piano has been in the relative same space for 25 = years.  The church does not have any = moisture/humidity control provisions, does have a forced air heating = system and air conditioning.<o:p></o:p>             The piano has a Dampp Chaser, installed some 12 to 15 years = ago. However, on my first<o:p></o:p> tuning = appointment I checked the water level and evaporator pads, the water level was very = low and the pads were dry and crusty.  After talking with the maintenance people, they changed the = pads and have been very good about keeping the water level up.<o:p></o:p>             Facts:<o:p></o:p> 1.          &nbsp= ;       Even with the Dampp = Chaser, the water evaporates in a day or two. <o:p></o:p> 2.          &nbsp= ;       The relative humidity = cannot be raised above the 32-33% mark.<o:p></o:p> 3.          &nbsp= ;       I suggested they = purchase a vaporizer to supplement the Dampp Chaser.<o:p></o:p> They = purchased a vaporizer, kept the water level up, the unit ran 24 hours<o:p></o:p> a day, and = within a 2 week period the relative humidity taken directly under <o:p></o:p> the piano = never raised above 35%, and the fan motor burned out.<o:p></o:p> Now we have a = large plastic tub under the piano with water and the RH will not<o:p></o:p> raise above 33-34%.<o:p></o:p> 4.          &nbsp= ;       I tuned the piano on = December 4th, 2004 and was called back to tune the piano <o:p></o:p> again last = night, one month later, and the piano averaged 7 cents flat with wild unisons.<o:p></o:p> 5.          &nbsp= ;       MAIN CONCERN AND PROBLEM.<o:p></o:p> I’ve = noticed since March 2002, a problem with moving the tuning pins and the problem has = worsened since then.  The pins will not = easily move, first movement down with the pitch and then bringing the pitch = back up, the sound from the pin in the pin block is like a finger snap or like = a spike being pulled out of a piece of southern yellow pine.  = <o:p></o:p> And even = after getting the pin to release, and pulled above pitch, I can still get the snap = sound and a jerk movement in attempting to pull the wire above pitch. Not an = easy smooth movement.<o:p></o:p> This problem = is now at the point that at least 1/3 of the pins are affected this way.<o:p></o:p> 6.          &nbsp= ;       I’ve discussed a = bottom cover, a skirt, keeping the piano closed during all non use <o:p></o:p> periods.<o:p></o:p>             Questions:<o:p></o:p> 1.          &nbsp= ;       What has happened to the = pin block?<o:p></o:p> 2.          &nbsp= ;       Will this condition, in = the pin block, continue to worsen?<o:p></o:p> 3.          &nbsp= ;       Is there anything that = can be suggested to correct this problem with the pin block?<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Many thanks,<o:p></o:p> Gordon = Holley, Associate Member, Indiana Chap 467<o:p></o:p></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>